Jacks for elevating the platform of an offshore drilling rig



Oct. 24, 1967 E. w. BROWN m 3,348,808

JACKS FOR ELEVATING THE PLATFORM OF AN OFFSHORE DRILLING RIG Filed June 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 "*1 P- 5 I i T I I E I 4o- J 1 1' INVENTOR.

I l EDGAR W. BROWN,I[[ 38-r z BY ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 24, 1967 E. w. BROWN m 3,348,808

JACKS FOR ELEVATING THE PLATFORM OF AN OFFSHORE DRILLING RIG 3 SheetsfiSheet 2 Filed June 7, 1966 INVENTOR. EDGAR W. BROWN, 111 E f-- BY Pwuw ATTORNEYS.

E. W. BROWN HI JACKS FOR ELEVATING THE PLATFORM OF AN OFFSHORE DRILLING RIG 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 7, 1966 INVENTOR.

EDGAR vv. BROWN, 111

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ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,348,808 JACKS FOR ELEVATING THE PLATFORM OF AN OFFSHORE DRILLING RIG Edgar W. Brown HI, P.0. Box D, Port Arthur, Tex. 77640 Filed June 7, 1966, Ser. No. 555,911 8 Claims. (Cl. 254-106) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A column extends through a platform which mounts wedging devices arranged about the column for coaction with lugs extending from the column. Alternate ones of the wedging devices are engaged with certain of the lugs to support the platform on the column, while intervening ones of the Wedge devices are free of the lugs. Cylinder and piston'type motors actuate the wedging devices in predetermined order to raise and lower the platform on the column.

This invention relates generally to jacks and particularly to improvements in jacks for elevating a platform, for example, that of an offshore drilling rig.

An important object of the invention is to provide jacks which afford a positive interlock at all times between the platform and the legs of the jacks.

Another object is to provide jacks which may be operated and serviced without employing the highly skilled and specially trained crews that are commonly used today.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent when the following specification is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation, indicated by lines 11-11 in FIGURE 1, showing a wedge device in closed condition positively interlocking the platform and a jack leg, the jack leg being one of the legs or columns upon which the platform is supported;

FIGURE 3 is a section on line IIIIII in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section on line IV-IV in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an elevation indicated by lines VV in FIGURE 1, showing a wedge device in open condition, i.e., disengaged from the jack leg; and

FIGURE 6 is a section on line VI-VI in FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention includes a platform 10, a plurality of laterally spaced columns 12 (of which only one is shown) extending freely through the platform and a set of four wedge devices circumferentially spaced equally about each column 12, alternate ones of the devices being designated 14 and intervening ones of the devices being designated 16.

Each column is provided with four outwardly extending lugs circumferentially spaced equally about the column, alternate ones of the series of lugs being designated 22 and intervening ones of the series of lugs being designated 24. The lugs of each series thereof are aligned and uniformly spaced vertically, and the vertical spacing of the lugs of each series is identical with the vertical spacing of the lugs of each other series. The inner ends of the lugs are affixed to the column, as by welding. Each lug is provided with downwardly and outwardly diverging upper surface areas 30 and an upright flange 32 at the outer end thereof.

Each wedge device 14 and 16 includes a pair of 0pposed, aligned identical parts, generally designated 34 and 36. Each part 34 and 36 is provided with a horizontally extending base member 38 suitably affixed to the platseries of radially form. The base member is flanked by a pair of guide plates 40 respectively on opposite sides thereof. At the inner end of the base member is a spacer plate 44 and a plate strap 48 of inverted U-shape. The base member 38, guide plates 40 and the strap 48 are secured together to provide a rigid frame for slidably mounting a wedge 50 for rectilinear shifting movement. The wedge 50 is recessed, as at 52, to provide a pair of upright laterally spaced parallel parts 54 having inclined undersurface areas 56. Extending from the closed end of the wedge member are laterally spaced ears 58 through which extend-s a pivot pin 60 for one end of a rod 62 working in a cylinder 64 suitably afiixed to the platform. The rigid base frames respectively of the parts 34 and 36 are spaced apart a distance sufficient for clearing the lugs when the platform is elevated.

Referring articularly to FIGURES 2-4, in the closed condition thereof (wherein they positively interlock the platform 10 with the column 12) the wedges 50 respectively of the parts 34 and 36 of the wedge device 14 are disposed in intermeshing relation, as shown, with the sloping undersurface areas 56 thereof engaged with the correspondingly sloped underlying upper surface areas 30 of one of the lugs 22, and with the opposite end portions of each wedge 50 disposed respectively within the plate straps 48 of the parts 34 and 36, as shown. Thus the Wedges 50 are wedged between said one lug 22 and the next higher lug 22.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 5 and 6 in the open condition thereof (wherein they are disengaged from the column 12) the wedges 50 respectively of the parts 34 and 36 of the wedge devices 16 are retracted sufficiently to clear the lugs 24 when the platform is elevated.

In the operation of the apparatus, first the wedges of the devices 16 are extended from the full line position to the partially extended position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 5. Thus the load on the wedges of the devices 14 due to the weight of the platform is transferred to the wedges of the devices 16, the platform remaining stationary. Then the wedges of the devices 14 are fully retracted to clear the lugs 22, whereupon the wedges of the devices 16 are extended from the partially extended position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 5 to the fully extended position also shown in broken lines in FIGURE 5. Thus the platform is elevated one step, i.e., a distance equal to the vertical spacing of the lugs, as a consequence of which the wedges of the devices 14 are aligned with the next higher pair of lugs 22. Now the wedges of the devices 14 are partially extended to effect transfer of the weight of the platform to the formerly overlying and now underlying lugs 22, the platform remaining stationary. Then the wedges of the devices 16 are fully retracted to clear the lugs 24, whereupon the wedges of the devices 14 are fully extended to elevate the platform a second step, as a consequence of which the wedges of the device 16 are aligned with the next higher pair of lugs 24. This cycle of operation may be repeated as often as necessary to raise the platform to the desired elevation.

It Will be observed that there is provided apparatus which affords a positive interlock at all times between the platform and the columns upon which it is supported.

Although the Wedge devices 14 as described and illustrated are at a higher elevation than the wedge devices 16, it will be understood that this relationship is necessitated only by the relative sizes of the column 12 and the devices 14 and 16. The relative sizes of the column 12 and the devices 14 and 16 may be such as to permit mounting all of the devices 14 and 16 at the same elevation. It will also be understood that means other than the lugs 22 and 24 may be employed for locking with the wedges 50. For example, the wedges may be arranged for projection into openings provided in the column 12.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination comprising a platform, a column extending freely through said platform, said platform being movable vertically relative to said column, a plurality of wedge devices mounted upon said platform for movement vertically therewith and disposed in circumfercntially spaced relation about said column, vertically spaced locking means on said column for coaction with said wedge devices, alternate ones of said wedge devices being engagedwith certain of said locking means for supporting said platform on said column, and intervening ones of said wedge devices being free of said locking means, and means for actuating said wedge devices in repeating cycles in each of which first said intervening devices are partially extending for engaging certain of said locking means to support said platform on said column, next said alternate devices are retracted to free them from said locking means, then said intervening devices are fully extended to raise said platform on said column one step, next said alternate devices are partially extended for engaging certain of said locking means to support said platform on said column, then said intervening devices are retracted to free them from said locking means, and next said alternating devices are fully extended to raise said platform on said column a second step.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein a series of aligned locking means extending laterally outwardly from the column are associated with each Wedge device, and each wedge device includes a pair of aligned wedge members mounted for rectilinear movement and for being extended toward each other and thereby disposed in side-by-side relation between a pair of said locking means, and for being retracted and thereby disposed to clear said locking means as said platform is elevated.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the vertical spacing between the locking means of each series thereof is uniform and identical with the vertical spacing between the locking means of each other series thereof.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the locking means are in the form of lugs radially disposed relative to the column, each lug is provided with upper surface areas sloping downwardly and extending outward- 4. ly in opposite directions respectively toward the pair of wedge members, and eachwedge member is provided with an undersurface area having a slope corresponding to that of the opposed sloping upper surface areas of said lugs.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the sloping upper surfaces of the lugs and sloping undersurfaces of the wedge members are all disposed at an identical acute angle relative to the horizontal.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each wedge device, includes a pair of wedge members each with a plurality of upright laterally spaced parallel parts,

and each mounted for rectilinear movement and for being extended toward each other and thereby disposed with said parts in intermeshing relation between a pair of said locking means, and for being retracted and thereby disposed with said parts in nonmeshing relation.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein a series of aligned locking means extending laterally outwardly from the column are associated with each wedge device, each wedge device includes a pair of aligned wedge members, and means for guiding said wedge members, each extended wedge member projects horizontally from the guide means therefor into the guide means for the associated wedge member, and said extended wedge members are wedged between a pair of said locking means.

8. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the means for actuating the wedge devices includes a cylinder and piston type motor for each wedge member, said cylinder being affixed to said platform, and means for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder for actuating said piston and thereby extending and retracting said wedge member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,673,067 3/1954 Fredrickson 254-106 3,154,292 10/1964 Rankin et al 254- 3,278,158 10/1966 Saldana 254-106 OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLATFORM, A COLUMN EXTENDING FREELY THROUGH SAID PLATFORM, SAID PLATFORM BEING MOVABLE VERTICALLY RELATIVE TO SAID COLUMN, A PLURALITY OF WEDGE DEVICES MOUNTED UPON SAID PLATFORM FOR MOVEMENT VERTICALLY THEREWITH AND DISPOSED IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RELATION ABOUT SAID COLUMN, VERTICALLY SPACED LOCKING MEANS ON SAID COLUMN FOR COACTION WITH SAID WEDGE DEVICES, ALTERNATE ONES OF SAID WEDGE DEVICES BEING ENGAGED WITH CERTAIN OF SAID LOCKING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PLATFORM ON SAID COLUMN, AND INTERVENING ONES OF SAID WEDGE DEVICES BEING FREE OF SAID LOCKING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID WEDGE DEVICES IN REPEATING CYCLES IN EACH OF WHICH FIRST SAID INTERVENING DEVICES ARE PARTIALLY EXTENDING FOR ENGAGING CERTAIN OF SAID LOCKING MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID PLATFORM ON SAID COLUMN, NEXT SAID ALTERNATE DEVICES ARE RETRACTED TO FREE THEM FROM SAID LOCKING MEANS, THEN SAID INTERVENING DEVICES ARE FULLY EXTENDED TO RAISE SAID PLATFORM ON SAID COLUMN ONE STEP, NEXT SAID ALTERNATE DEVICES ARE PARTIALLY EXTENDED FOR ENGAGING CERTAIN OF SAID LOCKING MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID PLATFORM ON SAID COLUMN, THEN SAID INTERVENING DEVICES ARE RETRACTED TO FREE THEM FROM SAID LOCKING MEANS, AND NEXT SAID ALTERNATING DEVICES ARE FULLY EXTENDING TO RAISE SAID PLATFORM ON SAID COLUMN A SECOND STEP. 